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The Brampton Guardian
Hanover dispatch notifies clients of possible closure
The Brampton Guardian
Thursday January 26 2012
 
BRAMPTON - Recently, the West Grey Police Department decided to switch their dispatch services from that of Hanover to Owen Sound. Without revenue from the West Grey Police Department, the Hanover dispatch is no longer financially viable, and has given its remaining clients a year’s notice of its possible closure. Amongst those clients are both the Wingham Police Services and the North Huron Fire Department. Several other services currently rely on the Hanover dispatch; 21 fire departments and, as of this switch, two police departments. This means, if the dispatch closes, these services will have to find alternatives in the next year.
Wingham Police Chief Tim Poole explained that finding a replacement can be more difficult than it may seem. Any dispatch they could work with has to specifically be a police dispatch. They also have to be a member of OPTIC (Ontario Police Information Technology Committee) or their systems won’t be compatible. Poole’s been searching for an alternative, and is soon meeting with the Owen Sound dispatch. Owen Sound has already said they could take the Wingham Police on as a client, but Poole has some personal concerns. When working with a service so far away, dispatches local to Owen Sound would take priority over those near Wingham. This could mean a delay in dispatching. Poole went on to say that, in an emergency, they would, of course, be given priority. Life-threatening situations wouldn’t be delayed, but others may. Owen Sound is also a larger, less personal service. However, switching to the Owen Sound dispatch could mean cost savings of $15,000 a year. The decision has yet to be made.
Fire Chief for the North Huron Fire Department, John Black, has been searching for alternatives as well. He said it’s a shame the Hanover dispatch may be closing, because it’s an excellent service. He acknowledged that being forced to find a replacement for Hanover would be a nuisance, as well as a learning curve. He also commented that West Grey’s decision to switch from Hanover to Owen Sound made sense, particularly in the current economic climate. Everything is still up in the air....please read more in this weeks Wingham Advance Times